Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United return ruined by defeat to Newcastle

Wayne Rooney’s return to the Manchester United team was ruined by Newcastle as the champions crashed to a 3-0 defeat.

Demba Ba helped Newcastle to a 3-0 victory against Manchester United (Picture: PA)

The striker, who sat out Saturdayâs defeat by Blackburn, cut a frustrated figure on Tyneside as United suffered a second straight reverse.

United denied Rooney had been dropped for the Blackburn game because he had gone out for a Boxing Day meal with team-mates.

Wayne Rooney returned to the Man Utd squad (Picture: AP)

And, despite his recall, the England man was far from at his best as Newcastle took a deserved lead through Demba Baâs route-one strike before the break.

Two minutes into the second half Newcastle doubled their lead thanks to Yohan Cabayeâs free-kick, which cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and over the line.

Rooney made way for Anderson 16 minutes from time and a terrible mix-up between Phil Jones and goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard saw Jones head into his own net in the last minute, leaving United three points adrift of leaders Manchester City.